ANAEMIA AMONG UNDERGRADUATES IN ABEOKUTA, OGUN STATE
Abstract
This study was conducted at the University of Agriculture, Abeokuta. Respondents were two hundred (200) female undergraduates who filled out their questionnaires properly and had their anthropometric measurements and their matching blood samples taken. Haemoglobin concentration was determined for each respondent using WHO standard and their nutritional status assessed using Body mass index (wt/ht2). Descriptive statistics was used to analyze data from the questionnaires. Results from this study showed that more than half (59%) of the population were anaemic. Many (45%) of the students were also underweight. It can be concluded that the low haemoglobin levels found among the students may be as a result of low food consumption and the frequent consumption of tea. Nutrition education is recommended to improve nutritional status of the students
References
FAO/WHO 2002. Human Vitamin and mineral requirements Report of a FAO/WHO expert consultation. Rome.
Hallberg, L., Brune, M., Rossander-Hutten, L., Gleerup 1992. Calcium and iron absorption: mechanism of action and nutritional importance Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Macmillan Publishing Ltd. EuropeanISSN:0954-3007
Kennedy, G., Nantel, G., Shetty, P. 2003. The scourge of hidden hunger: global dimensions of micronutrient deficiencies Food, Nutrition and Agriculture, 328-14
Maziya-Dixon, B., Akinyele, I.O., Oguntona, E.B., Nokoe, S., Sanusi, R.A., Harris, E. 2004. Nigeria food consumption and Nutrition Survey 2001-2003 Summary. International institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) ISBN 9781312211: 5-47
Merchant, K.M., Kurz, K.M. 1993. Women's nutrition through the life cycle: social and biological vulnerabilities. In: Koblinsky M, Timyan J. Gay J. ed. The health of women: a global perspective. Boulder, Col, USA: Westview Press, 63-90.
Oguntona, C., Razaq, M., Akintola, T. 1998. Pattern of dietary intake and consumption of street foods among Nigerian students . Nutrition and health, 12: 247-256
Royston, E., Armstrong, S. eds. 1989. Preventing maternal deaths. Geneva: World Health Organization
WHO 2001. Iron deficiency anaemia: Assessment, prevention and evaluation- a guide for programme managers. Geneva
WHO 2003. The Global Database on Body Mass Index (BMI) Department of Nutrition for Health and Development 9NHD) Health Organization, Geneva
WHO 1992. The prevalence of anaemia in women: a tabulation of available information. 2nd ed. WHO/MCH/MSM/92.2. Geneva: World Health Organization
